Election 2024: Membership-Elected Trustee Candidates

Dr. Doug Gibson

Portrait of Doug Gibson

Doug Gibson is a retired family physician and a long-term donor to ROM and has been an enthusiastic volunteer with the Department of Museum Volunteers for the last thirteen years. As a physician who cared for 4,000 patients over forty years, he was keen on innovation, information technology and environmental stewardship.

In his work with the Department of Museum Volunteers, he has chaired and actively supported many committees. As a docent, he has been particularly active with Earth and Life Sciences. During the pandemic, he recognized the need for virtual communications and worked on such presentations for various committees.

On the Board since 2021, he has served with Finance, Governance and Collections Committees. He supports the strategic goal that the ROM act as a focus for discussion and education in the 21st century. He supports ROM’s initiatives towards Indigenous Reconciliation and moderating climate change . He is particularly interested in the potential of ROM for education as one of the top science museums globally.

A lifelong learner, he enjoys most fields of science, particularly astronomy, geology and paleontology and is fascinated by history. He lives with his wife in Toronto and has three children and four grandchildren.

Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell, CM, EdD

Portrait of Rita Shelton Deverell

For 55 years, I have worked in Canadian arts and cultural industries: as a theatre artist, television broadcaster/senior executive, independent producer, journalism educator, and author. I will cite four awards that remind me of my responsibilities to community and in the world: Gemini Canada, honours excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada; Member, Order of Canada, for work at Vision TV and APTN (Aboriginal Peoples TV Network); Black Women’s Civic Engagement Leadership Award; Governor General‘s Performing Arts Award, Lifetime Achievement, Broadcasting. Artists do not retire, and currently I am working on four theatre and media projects that are about subjects ROM tackles in a different context. I had the privilege of being a ROM trustee for six years (2017-2023). During this time, I was Chair of the Collections, Engagement, and Research committee for three years, an active member of the HR and Governance committees, and Co-Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. I maintain a trustee emeritus membership in the Black Trustees Alliance for Art Museums and membership in the Canadian Museums Association.